Former bookkeeper for the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office, Margaurette Beard, was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in federal prison for stealing more than $1.6 million from the office. She pleaded guilty in late March to one count of misuse of federal funds. The 68 year old Beard will report to a prison on Sept. 19. Charges against her in the 9th Judicial District Court are still pending, as is a civil lawsuit.

State police report an Alexandria woman was killed yesterday shortly before noon in Beauregard Parish when vehicle she was driving crossed the center line of the highway and hit an 18 wheeler head on. 66 year old Brenda Bordelon, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of the crash.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office reports 33 year old Damarcus Scales, one of two people charged with the death man outside the Bolton Avenue Community Center, has rearrested after Corrections Officers found him in possession of a “Shank” during a routine inspection of his cell at DC3. Scales, who is no stranger to legal issues, now faces a new charge of introducing contraband into a correctional facility.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis says Louisiana’s Gross Domestic Product grew for the first quarter of this year at a rate of two-point-three percent, which is faster than 35 other states. In a statement, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a sign Louisiana’s economy is steadily improving and his administration continues to work towards bringing record economic development deals.

The Trump Administration on Tuesday announced up to $12 billion in emergency relief for farmers hurt by the president’s trade war. Ag commissioner Mike Strain says the hand up is much needed in the ag industry. Strain says the burden put on farmers by financial shortfalls can be overwhelming. US Senator John Kennedy weighed in on the situation, saying he wonders what will be done for manufacturers for automobiles and petrochemicals.

More jobs are coming to Iberville Parish as Gov. John Bel Edwards and Shintech Louisiana LLC have announced a $1.49 Billion expansion. The project is expected to create 120 new direct jobs with an average salary of more than $81k, plus benefits, and 590 indirect jobs in Iberville Parish and surrounding parishes. The company works in chemical production and has been in the bayou state since 1999.

The exchange on capital punishment between Gov. John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continues to escalate. The last execution in Louisiana took place in 2010 when the drugs for a lethal injection were last available. The governor’s office has pointed out that Landry hasn’t offered a single bill dealing with capital punishment since he took office in 2016.

US Senator John Kennedy got a chance to sit down and talk with President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The conversation stuck mostly to personal topics, as Kennedy says he’s impressed so far with the nominee’s temperament. Kennedy says its crucial the Senate get it right, because the nomination is for life.

In a move that blindsided many, following repeatedly denying he would run, the interim Secretary of State, Kyle Ardoin, made a last minute announcement of his inclusion into the special election for the Secretary of State’s office on the final day on qualifying. Ardoin claims he never purposely misled anyone about his intentions with the November special election.

The New Orleans Police Department arrested two of its own officers and began the process of firing them after an off-duty fight with a civilian early Tuesday near a Mid-City bar. The two rookies who graduated from the police training academy in December and had not yet completed a required probationary period were booked on counts of simple battery in connection with an incident that sent a third man to the hospital. Investigators collected video evidence and witness statements which "clearly" established that the officers were the aggressors in an altercation.

Jefferson Parish officials report a man leaped onto the hood of a woman’s car during a domestic dispute, jumped off and then fatally shot her through the windshield near the entrance to an upscale west bank subdivision Tuesday. Authorities didn’t immediately identify the woman or her alleged attacker, who was arrested at the scene. But they said the couple was either married or dating and that the woman was from New Orleans.

Eight people are under arrest in relation to a dismembered male body discovered in the woods outside of Walker. Authorities have identified the remains as 26-year-old Michael Neufeld of Donaldsonville. He was last seen by family members on July 2nd. Sheriff Jason Ard says they are still trying to establish an exact motive.

Sports..

The Saints open their first day of training camp tomorrow at 8:50AM, which will be on the field. A total of ten practices will be open to the public, with the first of those being this Saturday.